BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey defended the upcoming launch of an Israel-based health care accelerator in Massachusetts and condemned antisemitism as she referenced recent vandalism of a kosher grocery store in Brookline on Wednesday.

Sheba Medical Center, the largest hospital in the Middle East that’s located outside of Tel Aviv, plans to open an “ARC Accelerator” facility in Greater Boston in January to support health care startups. At a State House press conference last month, Dr. Yitshak Kreiss, Sheba’s director general, said the accelerator can be a tool for tackling antisemitism as Bay Staters start to see the benefits stemming from innovation and economic growth.

In a radio interview Wednesday, a caller from Boston asked Healey why residents should “trust the company actively supporting genocide.” The caller said Sheba supports the Israeli military, which she said has bombed “every hospital in Gaza and killed more than 1,200 Palestinian health care workers through systematic targeting.”

“I think it’s really cool that a company that is so focused on health care and innovation is coming to Massachusetts,” Healey responded on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio,” as a pro-Palestinian demonstrator yelled from the audience at the Boston Public Library.

“I’m proud that we’re the global hub. I’m proud that people come, as they did last week from BIO, all over the world to Massachusetts because of that ecosystem,” Healey continued, referring to the BIO International Convention. “And so when there are investments that others want to make, no cost to us, but investments that others want to make – first off, I’m not surprised that people want to set up shop in Massachusetts because of that incredible ecosystem. And I welcome those investments, those jobs, and importantly, the lifeline that those treatments, and those therapies, and those cures can provide to residents in Massachusetts and people all over the world.”

The American Friends of Sheba Medical Center website describes the hospital as “tightly integrated with the IDF,” or the Israeli Defense Forces. Injured IDF soldiers are treated at Sheba for rehab, prosthetics and physical therapy. Future IDF medical providers are also trained at Sheba.

Kreiss previously emphasized that Sheba treats all patients, including Jews, Christians, Muslims and Palestinians. He said Sheba is “ready every day, every minute to accept the remaining hostages.”

The Israel-Hamas War – which began after Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and kidnapped 251 people – has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties. The United Nations has accused Israel of destroying Gaza’s health care system, while Israeli officials have argued Hamas uses hospitals in Gaza as command centers, according to Reuters.

Healey did not directly discuss the conflict in Gaza, but radio co-host Jim Braude scolded the demonstrator for shouting over the governor.

“By the way, time to say we just had a brief pro-Palestinian demonstration, and I should make clear anybody’s entitled to ask any question that they want without disturbing the show,” Braude said. He urged listeners to “respectfully” speak with the show producers if they want to ask Healey a question.

Healey quickly chimed in to point out that a brick – which had “Free Palestine” written on it – was thrown through the Butcherie, a Jewish business in Coolidge Corner, earlier this month.